An Australian freedom fighter dubbed ‘the Ninja’ has been killed fighting Russian forces in Ukraine.
Trevor Kjeldal, 40, from Brisbane, was reportedly killed in action in the Donbas region of Ukraine this week.
Mr Kjeldal, who was described as ‘a very treasured and loved member’ of his family, is believed to have arrived in Ukraine earlier this year.
Social media posts suggest he had been wounded in action in July – suffering near-fatal gunshot wounds – before bravely returning to the frontlines in September.
Trevor Kjeldal, 40, from Brisbane, was reportedly killed in action in the Donbas region of Ukraine this week
He was dubbed ‘the Ninja’ on social media, after causing a stir during his time on the frontlines
When he was injured, he suffered shrapnel wounds to the head.
However, he said he had no plans to return to Australia and wanted to remain in Ukraine until the war is over.
‘I’ve beat the odds once, so let’s just see if I can do it again,’ Mr Kjedal said at the time.
Mr Kjedal is believed to have been serving in the 49th ‘Select Carpathian’ battalion of the Ukrainian army.
He was dubbed ‘the Ninja’ on social media, after causing a stir during his time on the frontlines.
Just last month he told a Nine News crew he felt compelled to help in the war.
‘Ukraine was in trouble, they needed people to come and help, so we came and helped,’ he said.
In October, he also shared his belief that the tide is turning in Ukraine’s favour.
His death was confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who say they are now providing assistance to his family.
In a statement, his family expressed their grief at Mr Kjeldal’s death.
‘Our depth of sadness at his loss is unfathomable,’ the family said.
The 40-year-old Queenslander, known by his callsign ‘Ninja’, arrived in the war-torn country earlier this year and was stationed on the frontline helping to liberate local towns claimed by the Russians
Mr Kjedal is believed to have been serving in the 49th ‘Select Carpathian’ battalion of the Ukrainian army
Social media posts suggest he had been wounded in action in July before returning to the frontlines in September
‘We would like to thank DFAT for their ongoing assistance in bringing him home to us.
‘At this incredibly sad time, we would request that the media respect our privacy as we grieve.’
DFAT expressed its deepest condolences to the family and said it was unable to provide further comment.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also passed on his condolences to Mr Kjeldal’s family and friends on Saturday.
‘This is tragic news. I remind people that the DFAT advice is that people do not travel to Ukraine,’ he said during a press conference in Queensland.
‘It is a dangerous place, but my heart goes out to the family and friends of the gentleman involved.’
Consular assistance can include support and guidance to families and liaison with local and Australian authorities to assist with funeral arrangements or repatriation of remains.
The Australian Government’s advice for Ukraine remains at do not travel.
Mr Kjedal’s death comes as a 23-year-old man from Washington, in the US ‘with no military experience who snuck out of his family home’ to fight in the Ukraine War also died.
Birds fly over a damaged building in the Kherson region village of Arkhanhelske on November 3. Vladimir Putin issued a chilling warning last night to the residents of Ukraine’s occupied Kherson – leave or face being forcibly deported to Russian-held territory
Reports have emerged of Russian soldiers abandoning checkpoints in Kherson and moving to the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, as the Ukraine counter offensive continues
Skyler James Gregg was fighting on the frontline with the International Legion in Ukraine – which consists of foreigners and operates under the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Its believed Gregg died in north-eastern Ukraine when soldiers from the International Legion came under artillery fire in the last week of October, a Ukrainian army contact told The Daily Beast.
Despite his father’s aversion to the idea Gregg made the decision to sneak out of his home and travel to Ukraine to volunteer despite having no military experience.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin issued a chilling warning last night to the residents of Ukraine’s occupied Kherson – leave or face being forcibly deported to Russian-held territory.
The despot made his remarks in an interview with state media in Moscow that indicated his troops could soon be on the retreat, with Ukraine pushing further towards the city snatched by Russia’s armed forces in the early days of the war.
‘Those who still live in Kherson should certainly be removed from the area of the most dangerous hostilities… civilians should not suffer from shelling, from attacks, counter-attacks or something like that,’ said Putin.
Reports have emerged of Russian soldiers abandoning checkpoints in Kherson and moving to the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.
In another apparent sign of Russia’s huge military weakness, Putin yesterday signed a decree allowing serious convicted criminals to sign up with the Russian army, effectively granting murderers and rapists their freedom if they are willing to fight.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said yesterday that Russia is deploying so-called ‘blocking units’ which ‘threaten to shoot their own retreating soldiers in order to compel offensives’.